According to FutbolArena, Besiktas’ hopes of signing Vincent Aboubakar on a permanent deal this summer are hanging by a thread – because The Magpies have entered advanced negotiations with the powerful Cameroon hitman.

The report adds that the Turkish champions will not be able to compete with Newcastle’s vastly superior finances, suggesting that Aboubakar’s head has already been turned towards the glamour of the Premier League.

The 25-year-old scored 17 goals in all competitions for Besiktas after arriving on loan from FC Porto last summer, helping the Istanbul-based club seal the league title for the second season in a row.

He also netted the winning strike in the 2017 African Cup of Nations final and, as a result, will lead the line for Cameroon at the Confederations Cup in Russia.

As a result, it is no surprise that Besiktas want to sign him on a long-term contract. However, Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez has made clear his desire for attacking reinforcements this summer and it appears that Aboubakar is now the frontrunner to make the move to St James’ Park.

Better late than never

A powerful and aggressive forward, the 57-time international possesses a thunderous shot and the upper body strength to lead the line in Benitez’s one-striker system.

His signing would also surely seal the end of Aleksandar Mitrovic’s Newcastle career.

The Mirror claimed all the way back in 2014 that Aboubakar was on The Magpies’ radar alongside the rising star of French football, Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette.

The Cameroonian had exploded onto the scene in Ligue 1, plundering 17 goals in 37 games for Lorient but made a big money move to Porto instead. Three years on, however, FutbolArena report that there is a very good chance Newcastle could finally bring Aboubakar to England.

Danny Owen

Daniel is a Journalist graduate from Leeds Trinity University and is generally obsessed with everything football related. Daniel watches everything from Augsburg in the Bundesliga to Vitesse in the Eredivisie with as much La Liga as possible thrown in for good measure.